GAVIN STAINDL
Ray White Pakenham , VIC
WILLIAM LOW
Ray White Bulimba , QLD
For nearly 50 years George and Jill held the keys to their family home . But after Jill passed away a few years ago , George struggled to maintain the quarter acre property by himself . Not long after , George was diagnosed with a terminal illness and passed away peacefully in the comfort of his own home surrounded by loving family and life-long friends .
A few months later I was appointed to sell the property on behalf of the family still dealing with the emotions of their father ' s passing . We are required to inform any interested buyers of a passing in the property .
Two weeks out from the auction we had six groups inspect the property so when a buyer called up to view the home that afternoon we gleefully jumped on it . She shot through the home quite quickly but after inspecting the master bedroom she asked me a question that will stay with me forever : " did someone pass away in this property ?" At this stage I hadn ' t informed the buyer of the death in the home . " Yes " I replied in shock , " how did you know ?"
" I could sense both of them ," the buyer said nonchalantly and proceeded to rattle off his first and second name . " They both died happily ," the buyer said after seeing my perplexed face , " and they want me to pass on to the family that they are both very happy and comfortable where they are ." I was stunned .
A day later I met the family to discuss the campaign and I told them of this crossing-over experience . The family wept tears of happiness . For the family , this campaign was exactly the closure they needed . And for me , it was a sale I ' ll never forget . To this day I ' m still very close with the family and continue to reminisce on this moment and sale .
Selling my parents ' house was to this day one of the most rewarding yet challenging experiences I have had to face as an agent . When my parents approached me , asking me to sell their house , I was shocked . Never in my wildest dreams had I envisioned them parting with this home . This was the home that bore witness to every significant moment of my life . And now , the responsibility of selling their most precious asset fell upon my shoulders .
I very quickly detached myself from the sale , assuming the role of their agent rather than their son . The campaign commenced with a flourish , drawing nearly 60 prospective buyers within the first week . But as the campaign unfolded , a disheartening reality began to unravel . I found myself grappling with the daunting task of conveying to my parents that our beloved home could potentially not be worth what they would need to make the next step .
My parents proved to be extraordinary vendors . They wholeheartedly embraced each and every recommendation I provided leading to an astonishing 140 inspections and a remarkable 12 registered bidders eagerly awaiting the auction ' s crescendo . Yet , amidst this whirlwind of optimism , the highest price feedback stood resolute at a mere $ 1.3 million . As the auction approached , the pressure built as mum and dad needed $ 1.5 million to embark on their next chapter .
In the end , we managed to secure a buyer at the auction , with the property selling for $ 1.505 million . This sale has had a profound impact on my career and given me insight into the emotional turmoil that future clients will inevitably experience . To my dear mum and dad , I express my deepest gratitude for unwavering belief in me , and for always being my unwavering pillars of support .
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